Chapter 16: Mystery of Origin
781words
"Miss Grey," the chairman began, "please describe the development of your relationship with Professor Moon."
I took a deep breath. "Jay—Professor Moon is my mentor, also my friend. Our relationship developed after I came of age, without any teacher-student power imbalance."
"But you live in the Moon house," a female director pointed out. "Doesn't that constitute some kind of dependency relationship?"
I was about to answer when the meeting room door suddenly opened. Olivia Sharp walked in, her blonde hair neatly tied back, her expression determined.
"Sorry to interrupt," she said, her voice more confident than I remembered. "I have important evidence to submit."
The chairman frowned. "You are?"
"Olivia Sharp, Victor Stone's ex-girlfriend," she walked forward, handing over a USB drive. "Here is a recording of Victor admitting to fabricating evidence and deliberately slandering."
The meeting room erupted in murmurs. Technicians quickly played the recording, Victor's cold voice clearly coming through:
"Of course it's fake... I want to make her regret choosing Moon instead of me... She'll pay..."
After the recording ended, the chairman cleared his throat. "In light of the new evidence, we will reassess the situation. Mr. Stone's accusations clearly lack credibility."
The hearing quickly concluded, with Jay temporarily reinstated, pending final investigation results. Leaving the meeting room, I immediately hugged Olivia.
"Thank you."
Olivia smiled bitterly. "I know what it's like to be controlled by Victor. When Aiden contacted me, telling me what happened... I knew I had to do something."
Back at the Moon house, the celebratory atmosphere was interrupted by William's seriousness.
"The hearing is just the beginning," he said in his study. "After Victor's failure, the Moonshadow Hunters may take direct action. We need to strengthen our defenses."
I stood by the window, the moonlight pendant gleaming in my hand. "I need more information. About my origins, about the Moonshadow clan's abilities."
William nodded, taking an ancient leather book from the bookshelf. "This is the historical record of the Moonshadow clan, left by your mother. Now is the time to learn more."
I carefully opened the book, finding it filled with ancient runes and illustrations depicting the history and abilities of the Moonshadow clan. A photo tucked between the pages caught my attention—my mother standing in front of an ancient building, holding a baby in her arms.
"Is this... me?" I asked softly.
William nodded. "That's the Moonshadow Temple, where you were born. Legend has it, the Moonshadow clan's power comes from the moonlight crystal there."
"Does it still exist?"
"As far as I know, after your parents fled, the temple was destroyed by hunters. But the crystal... might still be somewhere."
I continued flipping through the pages, finding one showing a connection pattern between the moonlight pendant and the crystal.
"This says the pendant can sense the crystal's location," I said in surprise. "If I could find the crystal..."
"Your power would greatly increase," William added. "But the hunters are also looking for it. It's a race, Ella."
Just then, Aiden burst into the study, his face pale. "Someone broke into the attic! Your room has been turned upside down!"
William and I quickly went upstairs, finding my room in chaos. Drawers pulled open, clothes scattered, but most disturbing was a symbol on the bedside table—a wolf's head drawn in red paint, with the words: "The Moonshadow bloodline must end" written beneath.
"They found this place," William said quietly. "Faster than I expected."
I felt a chill, but it was quickly replaced by anger. "This is my home. I won't let them threaten us."
I gripped the pendant, feeling a surge of power. Moonlight streamed through the window, shining directly on the pendant, making it emit a dazzling light.
"The pendant is responding to your emotions," William said in surprise. "It's... pointing a direction."
I watched the beam of light from the pendant pointing towards the depths of the distant forest. "The crystal," I said softly. "It's calling to me."
William's expression became serious. "If the pendant can sense the crystal, the hunters might also have ways to track it. We must find it first."
I looked at the forest outside the window, then at the threatening message in the room. My destiny was accelerating, and the answers seemed hidden in the depths of that forest, waiting for me to discover.
"Tomorrow," I said firmly. "On the night of the full moon, we'll search for the crystal."
